Electric clock striking mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

0. D. WARNER. ELBGTRIG CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

Patented May 29, 1894.

[Ewe/2507' m WzZ/Zass as m! NATIONAL LIYH (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. D. WARNER.

ELEOTRIG CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

No. 520,585. Patented May 29, 1894.

' Imus/afar UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES D. WARNER, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CLOCK STRIKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,585, dated May 29,1894.

Application filed Aprilii, 1893. Serial No. 469,261. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES D. WARNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ansonia, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Striking Mechanism forClocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being badto the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to electric apparatus for operating thestriking-mechanism of a clock of large dimensions, such as a townclock,or of an-alarm mechanism, or of any similar mechanism embodying heavyand relativel y slow-moving bell-hammers.

I show and shall describe my invention as applied to thestriking-mechanism of a tower clock; but it is to be understood that thesame is otherwise applicable, as to firealarm or other signal-mechanism.

The common striking-mechanism of a tower clock, consists in essentialrespects of heavy weights occupying a considerable space of the tower orbuilding as to run-way, and of hand-winding device whereby the weightsare wound up. Such mechanism is both cumbersome and expensive, and theattention it requires in the matter of being frequently wound up is animportant part of the cost of maintenance. It is the object of thisinvention to provide electric apparatus for operating suchstriking-mechanism, which apparatus is to be put into operation atproper intervals by a regulator electrically connected therewith.

I am aware that various electric devices have been proposed foroperating the striking-mechanism of common house clocks, but in anysuch, where an electric current was the source of power for directlyoperating the striking hammer, the hammer was light and of littleinertia, and such apparatus would not effectively or economically servefor use with a large hammer of great inertia such as this invention isapplied to.

The invention consists of a tower, church, or similar clock, or signalstriking'mechanism, and an electric motor directly geared or operativelyconnected therewith and for operating the same.

The invention also consists of electric circuit making and breakingdevices, whereby the motor of astriking-mechanism automatically breaksits own circuit upon completion of its work at any given time.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a strikin g-mechanism of a tower orsimilar clock, the same being provided with an electric drivingapparatus according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.Fig. 3 is a section on the plane on a; of Fig. Fig. 4 is a detail Viewof parts of Fig. 3 when the same are in action.

1 represents the base or framework of the striking-mechanism.

2 is a lever that is pivotally hung on arms 3 and is to be properlyconnected to a bell hammer in such manner that the rise and fall of theinner end of the lever will lift the hammer head and let it fall uponthe bell.

4 is a triplicate cam-wheel mounted on shaft 5 hung in journals 6 on theframe. This shaft also carries gear-wheel 7 which meshes with pinion 8on shaft 9, which shaft carries also gear-wheel l0, and this wheelmeshes with the pinion 11 on the armature 12 or other rotating part ofthe electric motor 13. This system of gearing is of the reduction kind,whereby the armature of the motor will need to rotate many times inorder to rotate the gear 7 one-third. The resistance to the motor,therefore, at any time, and against its rotation, is slight,and it isinsured that the motor will at any time promptly start off uponreceiving the proper actuating current. It will be plain, that as themotor rotates, the cam-wheel 4; will be slowly turned, and that theinner end of the lever will be gradually raised and eventually droppedbehind one of the cams, thus effecting one blow of the bell hammer.Also, it will be seen, that after a given series of blows, or when theparts are at rest, as shown, the inner end of the lever rests betweentwo of the cams, and so offers the least resistance to the starting ofthe motor, which therefore gets into full action beforeit does anylifting of the lever.

On shaft 5 is borne the escapement wheel 14, carrying escapement pins15, which successively engage the teeth of and drive the hour wheel 16,which wheel is provided with the pins 17 spaced to correspond anddetermine the number of blows that the hammer shall strike at any giventime. The hour wheel is pivotally hung on axis 18 fixed in theframe-Work, and a frictional retaining spring 19 serves to hold thiswheel to any position when it may come to rest, or against unintentionalrotation. Fixed upon axis 18 and rising vertically therefrom is the arm20, which carries the pivotally supported and springactuated pawl 21,the lower end or toe of which is just above one of the hour pins 17 whenthe parts are at rest-Fig. 8. The vertical arm of this pawl carries thepin 22, which projects through a slot 23 in arm 20 and to under thearmature arm 24 of the starting electro-magnet 25, which arm hears thelug 26 against which the pawl pin bears under stress of its spring 27.The armature arm or lever 24 carries the electric contact point 28, andjust above this point is located the contact spring 29, which issupported on, but insulated from, the armature support 30.

Assuming the motor to be in circuit with a proper source of electricityand that such circuit includes the armature lever and the springcontact, and also that the starting magnet 25 is in circuit with propermechanism controlled by some time mechanism, the operation is asfollows:Energizing the starting magnet, will cause the longer end of thelever of the same to be raised, thus closing the motor circuit andstarting the motor. At the same time, and by the upward movement of thelever, the toe of the pawl will be lowered into the path of the hourpins on the hour wheel-Fig. 4c, and the pawl pin will be carried forwardunder the lever lug to hold the lever in raised position after thecessation of the starting current. The motor by continuous rotationcauses the hammer lever to rise and fall the requisite number of times,which is determined by the advance of another hour pin against the toeof the pawl, thus raising the same and withdrawing the pawl pin fromunder the lever lug and permitting the lever to fall and by breaking themotor circuit stop the motor. By these means I am enabled to operatebell hammers of large size by an electric motor of relatively smallsize, and thereby to dispense with the cumbersome and expensive weightmechanism and the fittings therefor heretofore employed. The maintenanceof such an electric mechanism, is also a matter of far less cost andtrouble than that incident to the cost of a weight mechanism that mustbe frequently Wound up.

The mechanism here shown may be variously modified, as will appear tothose familiar with this art, and so I do not strictly confine myself tothe construction illustrated.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a tower-clock striking mechanism, thecombination of a bell-hammer actuating device, an electric motor and itscircuit for operating said device, a time circuit armature acting toclose the motor circuit, and a looking device acting to hold the saidarmature in closed circuit position during the time of striking.

2. In a tower-clock striking mechanism, the combination of hammeractuating device, an electric-motor and its circuit for operating saiddevice, a time circuit armature for 010s ing the motor circuit, alocking device acting to hold the armature in closed circuit positionduring the time of striking, and mechanism operated by the motor andacting to open the motor circuit.

3. In combination, the bell hammer operating train and the driving motorthereof, the hour wheel 16 driven by the train and having the pins 17,the time circuit magnet and its armature, the motor circuit and meanssubstantially as described whereby the depression of the time circuitarmature will close the motor circuit and hold the same closed andwhereby by the operation of the hour wheel said circuit will be opened.

4:. In combination with the striking train of a tower clock including anelectric motor for operating the same, a time circuit armature operatingby one movement to close a circuit through the motor and by its oppositemovement to open said circuit, and means substan tially as described forholding the motor circuit closed during the requisite time of strikCHARLES D. WARNER.

Witnesses:

M. F. FLYNN, WILLIAM P. NILES.

